From:
Ryan and Tracy Lant
Date: 2001-04-03 05:32:00 UTC
Subject: Re: [Ferret-Health-list] Charlie...possible ulcers.
Okay, guess I wasn't as clear as I should have been. That is
what happens when I write late at night. I live in Nevada,
the ferret was brought to me about 4 days after his surgery
from the vet office in California. He was negative for
adrenal disease both in a TN panel and Exploratory surgery.
They removed a hairball from him. Said he had signs of an
inflamed gastrointestinal tract. Could this be the tarry
stools problem?
He is on antibiotics. They did do a test and he is negative
for mites. The vet in Sac. recommended that he have an
allergy work up or begin steroid therapy. I am taking him to
my vet for an overall exam tomorrow as they couldn't see him
today and I want him to see my vet whom I trust.
He is eating like crazy now. Gerber Baby food, mixed with
lots of hot water. He won't eat it unless it is almost pure
liquid. I added ensure instead of Water this last time and he
ate that too. So I guess I will make him a new mix of Gerber
Chicken Baby Food, ensure, and vitamins of some sort. I don't
want to overload him so I will vary between ferretvite,
ferrettone and vitasol. Little bits each time. He is eating
about 2 jars of baby food, plus the rest, a day. Does this
sound okay?
thanks for the advice...it really helps. I will get him on
the carafate. I thought they had to be grinding their teeth
to have the ulcers and I haven't seen this at all, but I did
notice the tarry stools, so that is why I wondered. thanks
Tracy
----- Original Message -----
From: AFERRETVET@cs.com
To: Ferret-Health-list@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2001 5:32 PM
Hi Tracy,
Yes, black tarry stools is digested blood.
Since he is not eating well and passing tarry stools
then ulcers are likely. Some ferrets will develop ulcers
after surgery like people can. Start with A/D and/or Gerbers
baby food
and Carafate and see how he does. Some will also need
antibiotic therapy (if there is Heli. causing the ulcers).
The hair loss can be form bad nutrition, parasites, or
adrenal gland disease. I would suggest a skin scrape to
look for mites as a precaution. Then the "test of time" can
be
used. With time and good nutrition his hair will grow back
if the hair loss was from bad nutrition. Skin mites can be
treated
based on what kind of mite is found. If no improvement then
consider
adrenal gland disease.
Hope that helps,
Jerry Murray, DVM
PS if you live in Northern CA you might want to let the vet
school
(UC-Davis) take a look at Charlie.
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